Days with a superhumanly chipper Kelly Ripa and nights with his fiancée: Mickey Rapkin counts the reasons Michael Strahan has to flash that signature smile

Not since casting The Hunger Games had there been so much excitement over a job search. But there was Katniss-level hysteria when retired NFL great Michael Strahan was named as Kelly Ripa's permanent cohost, replacing Regis Philbin. It was an odd—or inspired—choice, depending on who you asked. Philbin was perfectly cantankerous; Strahan, 41, is a 6'5" teddy bear with a Super Bowl ring, a clothing line called Gmen, and a gap-toothed grin. His public persona may be lovable giant, but his 2006 divorce (his second) portrayed him as anything but: That bizarre, protracted public spat with his ex-wife—during which the pair let myriad allegations fly—took several years, an appeal, and a settlement to finally come to an end. But Strahan, the onetime defensive lineman for the New York Giants and the league's record holder for most sacks, never lost his faith in the institution of marriage. He's now engaged to Nicole Murphy, ex-wife of comedian Eddie Murphy, and the couple have amassed a Brady Bunch–like brood, with nine children between them. Here's the story….

ELLE: Who was your childhood crush?

Michael Strahan: Elisabeth Shue, from The Karate Kid. It's funny, her kids go to the same school as my kids in L.A.

ELLE: Have you told her how you felt?

MS: Heck, no. Man, are you crazy? What, we're at school and I'm like, "Hey, you know you were my childhood crush?" [Laughs] She'd be like, "Security!"

ELLE: Your father was in the military, and you spent your high school years largely in Germany. What did the local women make of you?

MS: One lady said, "Steigerman!" It means "big man," or "mountain man." German women love American men. That's why a lot of American servicemen go to Germany—and never come back.

ELLE: You went to college in the States. Was it tough to talk to American girls?

MS: American girls were challenging. They gave you a hard time, and you had to be on top of your game. Once I came back, I was shy. I was really shy.

ELLE: That's hard to believe. On Live, you wore spandex for a workout with Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas.

MS: When it comes to the camera, I can do my thing. But I'm bashful.

ELLE: You're famous for your gap-toothed smile. Were you ever self-conscious about your looks?

MS: I was really close to closing it up. I was at the dentist having him do mock-ups. I thought about it, man.

ELLE: That would be like Cindy Crawford removing her mole.

MS: I was in my twenties. I was playing with the Giants. There's so much pressure to be perfect. You can fix everything now. For me, I made the conscious effort to say "This is who I am." I'm not perfect. I don't want to try to be perfect. At this point, I don't think my kids would recognize me without it. They'd be like, "Who is this stranger in the house? Call 911!"

ELLE: You came of age as a celebrity in the NFL before camera phones. Are you grateful?

MS: No doubt.

ELLE: Tell me a wild story you're glad wasn't caught on camera.

MS: There were definitely some situations that have—and will—remain private between teammates. Had there been iPhones and tweeting, it would have been a mess.

ELLE: You're often described as "cuddly." Do you have a favorite chick flick?

MS:The Notebook gets me every time. It's a great love story. Boy from the wrong side of the tracks. They get on each other's nerves, but they can't live without each other. It almost makes me shed a tear.

ELLE: You're engaged to Nicole Murphy. Do you two bicker like that?

MS: I'm not gonna say we never get on each other's nerves. It's not human if you don't. But we never argue like that.

ELLE: What do you want to teach your daughters about men?

MS: Stay away! No, I'm joking. Even though I'm not with their mother, it's important for my kids to see adults in a committed and happy relationship. They need to see a strong relationship. You don't have to settle.

ELLE: Your last divorce was in the tabloids almost daily.

MS: It didn't get public on my account. I wasn't necessarily trying to be public about anything. I couldn't control it. There's no reason to trash anybody in that situation. With technology the way it is, that stuff never goes away. When you have kids, who get older and use computers, you have to think about them. No matter how upset you are. So that's what I chose to do. It was one of the worst but best things for me. You learn you don't go around trying to prove to other people who you are.

ELLE: I take it your relationship with Nicole is different.

MS: I can be myself. I have someone who gets along with my family. And who gets along with my friends. And we have a lot of the same interests. Life is just a lot more peaceful.

ELLE: After two divorces, you still believe in marriage?

MS: I definitely believe in marriage.

ELLE: But do you believe in prenups?

MS: I believe in those, too!

ELLE: I was kidding.

MS: I'm not kidding!

ELLE: What's the best advice you've ever received about women?

MS: I've gotten a lot. I haven't listened to a lot of it! But I've gotten a lot. I think the best advice—which I didn't listen to then, but I do now—is this: Don't force anything. Trust your gut. If you feel something's wrong, it probably is.

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